The Book of Revelation

Chapter 6

The Seal Judgments - Revelation 6:1-17

Rev. 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (KJV) As John watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then one of the four living beings called out with a voice that sounded like thunder, "Come!"

The “Seals” are the first of three seven-part judgments. The “Trumpets” (Rev.8-9) and the “Bowls” (Rev.16) are the other two. As each seal is opened, Christ the Lamb sets in motion events that will bring about the end of this world as we know it. The voice, as the noise of thunder, symbolizes awesome power and authority. This scroll is not completely opened until the seventh seal is broken (Rev.8:1). The contents of the scroll reveal mankind’s vile sinfulness and vividly picture God’s authority over ALL the events of human history. Upon the opening of the seals, the Great Tribulation begins, or as Daniel calls it, the 70th week (Dan.9:24-27). Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (KJV) The ‘church’ is delivered from all that is about to happen. WHY? Is it because believers are such good, kind, sweet, wonderful people? NO! We ALL are sinners (Rom.3:10,23), BUT, we have been saved by the precious Blood of Jesus and the amazing grace of God. Only those who reject God’s grace shall go through this horrible time.

Here are some things to consider about the Great Tribulation:

• (1) The true church as salt and light (symbol of good and right) will be gone. The church has very little influence on the ‘world’ today, but it does have some!
• (2) The Holy Spirit (who indwells ALL believers, all of which are now gone) will restrain evil no more (2 Thes.2:6-12). The Holy Spirit will still be on Earth, but He will no longer restrain evil. Mankind will then be free to ‘do their thing’.
• (3) Satan will have a free rein at this time; and he knows his time is short, so he will take advantage of the situation, causing havoc like the world has never known.
• (4) Evil men will be able to carry out their vicious and wicked plans, and no one shall stop them.
• (5) But in the end, GOD will be victorious, as always! His judgments will be swift and sure.

Rev. 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (KJV) John looked and saw a white horse. The rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to many battles trying to gain victory.

Christ shall break all the seals, in order. He is in complete control of every creature and every situation! Four horses (of the Apocalypse) appear as the first four seals are opened. The first horse is white, indicating purity and good, BUT, because the other three horses relate to judgment and destruction, this rider on a white horse CANNOT be Christ as many think! There are many who believe he is Christ because Jesus does come on a white horse in Rev.19:11, BUT, the rider here has a “bow” (symbol of war), and he went out to conquer. Does this sound like Christ? The rider here is NOT Christ, but a satanic deceiver. He wants people to think he is Christ, and is bringing peace to the world (2 Cor.11:14). The rider is the Antichrist, and when he comes, he will NOT appear to be a villain. He comes offering peace to Israel (Dan.9:27), but midway in the last “week” (7 years) he shall reveal his true colors.

Rev. 6:3-4 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. [4] And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (KJV) When the Lamb broke the second seal, John heard the second living being say, "Come!" And another horse appeared, a red one. The rider was given a mighty sword and power to remove peace from the Earth. There was war and killing everywhere.

Who is the rider on this second (red) horse? Same rider! The Antichrist! The rider on the white horse could not possibly be Christ, for when He comes bringing peace, it will be permanent! The peace the rider on the white horse (Antichrist) will bring will be very short lived. Now he comes riding on a red horse (bloodshed and war), showing his true colors! The prophet Daniel foretold this event (Dan.9:27). He said that in the middle of the “week” (7 years, the Great Tribulation) the Antichrist would break the peace treaty with Israel. There shall be war! A great war, world wide. This has not been fulfilled as yet.

Rev. 6:5-6 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. [6] And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. (KJV) When the Lamb broke the third seal, John heard the third living being say, "Come!" John looked and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. A voice from the midst of the four living beings said, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine."

Deception and false religion lead to war; and war leads to famine and disease. Following the horrible war, there shall be a great famine. After every war there is a shortage of food because men are at war; crops are not planted, and there is destruction of crops that were ready to harvest. Millions shall die of hunger. Food will become so scarce that it will have to be rationed (symbolized by the pair of balances, or scales). Oil and wine symbolize the food of the wealthy. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer! The rich will be able to buy their luxury foods while the poor people starve to death.

Rev. 6:7-8 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. [8] And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (KJV) When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, John heard the fourth living being say, "Come!" John looked and saw a horse whose color was pale green like a corpse. Death was the name of its rider, who was followed around by Hell. They were given power over one-fourth of the Earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.

Famine follows war. Death follows famine. Does Hell (Hades) ride a separate horse than Death? Or does Hades ride with Death? The riders described in Rev.6:2-8 are commonly referred to as the “four horsemen of the Apocalypse.” The riders are given power over one-fourth of the Earth, showing God’s mercy. He is limiting His judgment --- it is not yet complete. There is still time for unbelievers to turn TO Christ and AWAY from their sin. God is demonstrating His wrath on sin, but also His merciful love in giving people yet one more chance to turn to Him before He brings final judgment. The rider was Death (king of terror), and this period will be one of great slaughter and devastation, brought about by four different means: (1) Sword (war). (2) Famine (hunger and starvation). (3) Death (fatal pestilence, plagues, disease). (4) Wild beasts, which shall roam unrestrained.

Rev. 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (KJV) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, John saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the Word of God and for being faithful in their witness. These souls cried out to the Lord saying, "O Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?" A white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their fellow servants of Jesus had been martyred.

What John saw when the fifth seal was opened really affected him. Souls of martyrs under the altar, at the foot of the altar in Heaven, at the feet of Christ! Persecutors can kill ONLY the body; they CANNOT kill the soul! God has provided a wonderful place, in a much better world, for those who are faithful unto death (Mark 13:13), those who persevere and keep their firm stand for our Lord. But we must remember, it is NOT their death, but the Sacrifice of Christ (HIS death) that gives them entrance into Heaven. WHO are these souls? They cannot be from the church age, for those souls were taken by Christ to Heaven at the Rapture (1 Thes.4:13-18). These souls under the altar are the Tribulation saints who took a stand for Jesus, and were martyred for their faith. This same group is again mentioned in Rev.7:9-17. The cause for which they suffered was the Word of God; the best for which any man can lay down his life; faith in God’s Word, AND the unshaken confession of that faith. We must tell others of Jesus! We cannot be ‘closet Christians.’ When this is fulfilled, God will send great tribulation to those who trouble His own, and wonderful happiness, peace and rest to those who are troubled. These martyred souls are extremely eager for God to bring justice to the Earth, but they are given white robes and told to wait a little while longer; until all their fellow servants and family are also killed as they were. . . . http://www.hisservants.org/tribulation_why_h_s.htm . . . http://www.hisservants.org/tribulation_what_h_s.htm

Rev. 6:12-13 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (KJV) John watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon turned as red as blood. The stars of the sky fell to the Earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds.

When the 6th seal is opened, the scene is again shifted to the Earth. Scripture does foretell of this eventful time in other places (Isa.13:9-13; 34:1-4; Joel 2:30-31; Zeph.1:14-15; Mat.24:29; Mark 13:24-25). The first five judgments were directed toward specific areas, but this judgment will be world-wide. EVERYONE will be afraid at the awesome power of God. Even the Earth itself shall tremble! Dread and terror shall seize ALL mankind.

Rev. 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (KJV) John saw the sky rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And ALL the mountains and ALL the islands moved from where they had been.

Nahum 1:5-6 states this very same truth; also Rev.20:11. This is to be taken literally! The sky shall be rolled up like a scroll; and EVERY mountain and EVERY island shall be moved out of their place! This is going to be one humongous earthquake, one as this world has never seen! God has power beyond words!

Rev. 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (KJV) The kings of the Earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person . . . EVERYONE hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They cried out to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?"

Grandeur, riches, valor, nor strength, will be able to support ANY man at this time! People shall know that it is God sitting on His Throne, that has caused this catastrophe. ALL human beings, great and small, will be terrified! They will beg the mountains to fall on them so they don’t have to face the judgment of the Lamb. This will be the most pathetic and tragic prayer meeting ever! They will pray for death that will not come! This vivid picture is NOT intended to frighten believers. For them, the Lamb is a gentle Saviour and Shepherd. But, ALL those generals, emperors, kings, well known celebrities, AND common folk, who previously showed no fear of God and blatantly flaunted their unbelief and rejection of Christ will KNOW they were wrong (Isa.45:22-23; Phil.2:10-11), and that they will have to face God's wrath. NO ONE who has ever rejected God can survive the day of His wrath, but those who belong to Christ will receive a reward rather than punishment. Do you belong to Christ??? . . . You do NOT want to feel God's wrath. http://www.hisservants.org/god%27s_holy_wrath_h_s.htm

The wrath of the Lamb is a paradox (a statement that seems to contradict itself, but in fact is true). God created the lamb to represent Christ. The Lamb is a symbol of gentleness and meekness. From the days of Abel to John the Baptist, Christ is depicted as a Lamb. But, just suppose this Lamb were to get angry. What then? What about the ‘other side’ of Christ? The wrath? Jesus did get angry (John 2:15), and He made a whip and chased the money changers out of the Temple. Jesus is GOD! He is righteous and holy and pure; and He hates everything that is contrary to Himself! He does NOT hate what you and I hate, He is NOT vindictive or malicious. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (KJV) If we look at the world around us, we can’t help but see it revealing the wrath of God. Christ the Lamb, will one day be the supreme Judge of ALL mankind whether you accept this fact or not. And He will most certainly show and express His wrath on all ungodliness. His wrath and judgment shall absolutely come! Christians (TRUE believers, TRUE children of God) are called to an already decided course; that strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life (Mat. 7:13-14). NOT all people are God’s children as some false teachers teach! NOT everyone will go to Heaven. Just those who believe and accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord (John 1:12-13; 3:3; 1 John 5:10-12). We must be bold for the cause of Christ, confessing the Truth about Him (Gospel), and living and serving Him every day that we live. Whatever we go through, He is always with us (Mat.28:18-20; Heb.13:5; Phil.4:13). . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.hisservants.org/will_christ_be_judge_h_s.htm

Book of Revelation

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